NITI Aayog proposes interstate licence portability for doctors

NITI Aayog has proposed interstate licence portability for healthcare professionals, suggesting a system that would allow doctors, nurses and allied health workers registered in one state to practise in another without repeated registrations or No Objection Certificates (NOCs). In its report, India's Services Sector: Insights on Regulatory Regime in Professional Services, the think tank said a seamless licence portability system could boost mobility to underserved areas.

The report recommended a national licence registry supported by Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) among state councils. It cited Maharashtra as an example where doctors from other states must submit a fresh application and an NOC from their original council, creating barriers. NITI Aayog said such hurdles constrain workforce flexibility and affect equitable access to healthcare.

The report also called for the speedy implementation of the National Exit Test (NExT) to standardise competency for medical graduates. It urged full operationalisation of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, noting that only 26 states and Union Territories had formed the required councils by 2025, with some deviating from the Act.